Low voltage electricity distribution circuit

ABSTRACT

The low voltage electricity distribution circuit of the present invention is an electrical outlet that includes a receptacle mounted to a recess including either a plurality of wires or a bus bar system. The receptacle has at least one continuously live power socket and at least one switched power socket disposed on it. Each of the power sockets is capable of receiving an appliance plug. The receptacle is movable along the recess to a different location to allow for appliances, for example lamps or computers, to be located at many different points along the wall. In other forms of the distribution circuit a stand-along unit that is fixed in place may be provided.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to low voltage electricitydistribution circuits. In particular, the present invention relates to apower busbar system that provides electricity to a receptacle that hasboth a continuously live power socket and a switched power socket, wherethe receptacle is relocatable along the busbar system.

2. Summary of the Prior Art

It is known in the art to provide a busbar power system having numerouspower sockets. It is also known in the art to provide moveable powerpoints along a busbar, in order to move appliances and the like todifferent locations along the busbar and thus to a different area of aroom.

GB2344001 of Electrak International Limited discloses a modularmulti-busbar power track system, where each module of the system has aplurality of linear busbars within an elongate casing. In each modulethere is at least one access socket into which a tap-off plug may beinserted to electrically connect other elements to the power tracksystem. This system does not allow for the access sockets to be movable.

WO99/27618 of The Wiremold Company discloses a power track in whichelectrical receptacles are mounted on. The track has a busbar powersystem that serves to power the contacts of the electrical receptacles.Any number of electrical receptacles can be releasably secured to thetrack, at any point along the track, by twisting a receptacle onto thetrack. The electrical receptacle disclosed provides for continuouslylive power sockets but no means in which to switch the power sockets.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide an electricity distributioncircuit which overcomes the abovementioned disadvantages or to at leastprovide the public with a useful choice.

Accordingly in a first aspect the present invention may be said toconsist in a low voltage electricity distribution circuit, whichsupplies both switched and unswitched power from switched and unswitchedpower sources, comprising:

-   -   a moulding defining a recess,    -   a first conductor that is connected in use to said unswitched        power source a second conductor that is connected in use to said        switched power source, and a third conductor that is connected        in use to a neutral power source, said conductors configured        with receiving means capable of receiving the pins of a plug        connected to a load or electrical appliance,    -   at least one receptacle that is mechanically and releasably        engaged with said moulding, said receptacle having at least one        live socket and one switched socket, each of said sockets being        formed by a plurality of apertures extending through said        receptacle, where said apertures are in registration with        corresponding receiving means of said conductors,    -   wherein in use, when said plug is inserted in said live socket        said pins form an electrical connection with said first        conductor and said neutral conductor such that said electrical        appliance or load is continuously powered, and when said plug is        inserted in said switched socket said pins form an electrical        connection with said second conductor and said neutral conductor        such that said electrical appliance or load is switchably        powered.

In a second aspect the present invention may be said to consist in astandalone receptacle which supplies both switched and unswitched powerfrom switched and unswitched power sources, comprising:

-   -   a first conductor that is connected in use to said unswitched        power source,    -   a second conductor that is connected in use to said switched        power source, and    -   a third conductor that is connected in use to a neutral power        source,    -   wherein said conductors are configured with receiving means        capable of receiving the pins of a plug connected to a load or        electrical appliance,    -   said standalone receptacle having at least one live socket and        one switched socket, each of said sockets being formed by a        plurality of apertures extending through said receptacle, where        said apertures are in registration with corresponding receiving        means of said conductors,    -   wherein in use, when said plug is inserted in said live socket        said pins form an electrical connection with said first        conductor and said neutral conductor such that said electrical        appliance or load is continuously powered, and when said plug is        inserted in said switched socket said pins form an electrical        connection with said second conductor and said neutral conductor        such that said electrical appliance or load is switchably        powered.

To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changesin construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of theinvention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope ofthe invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and thedescriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to bein any sense limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Preferred forms of the invention will be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which;

FIG. 1 is an illustration of the circuit of the present invention, wherea receptacle having sockets is mounted to the power bus bar system andbus bar housing, and the sockets receive plugs connected to theelectrical appliance or loads,

FIG. 2 is a front view of the bus bar of the circuit of the presentinvention, showing the bus bar terminations,

FIG. 3 is an alternative front view of the bus bar of the circuit, inparticular showing the configuration of the bus bars and slots in whichthe pins of electrical plugs fit into,

FIG. 4 is a side view of the bus bar, bus bar housing and receptacle ofthe present invention,

FIG. 4A is a close-up view of detail A of FIG. 4 showing theinterconnection between the bus bar housing, back plate and faceplate ofthe receptacle,

FIG. 4B is an illustration of the installation or removal of the bus barcover of the present invention,

FIG. 5 is an end view of the bus bar insulator used with the circuit ofthe present invention in order to insulate the bus bars,

FIG. 5A is an isometric view of the bus bar insulator,

FIG. 5B is an isometric view of the bus bar insulator with the bus barsinstalled,

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the circuit of the present inventionshowing each component of the outlet and how each componentinterconnects,

FIG. 7 is an illustration of the circuit of the present invention fullyassembled,

FIG. 7A is a close-up illustration of detail B of the circuit as shownin FIG. 7,

FIG. 8 is an illustration of an alternative bus bar and receptaclesuitable for the New Zealand power system,

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the alternative bus bar and receptacle as shownin FIG. 8,

FIG. 10 is an illustration of two appliance plugs fitted into the busbars of the first form of the circuit of the present invention,

FIG. 11 is an exploded view of an alternative embodiment of the circuitof the present invention where a plurality of wires provide electricalpower to terminals connected to a receptacle that provides both switchedand continuously powered electrical sockets,

FIG. 12 is a side view of the alternative embodiment of FIG. 11,

FIG. 13 is a close-up view of detail C of FIG. 12,

FIG. 14 is a further side view of the circuit of FIG. 11 showing theseating of the live and ground wires against their respective contacts,

FIG. 15 is a close-up view of detail D of FIG. 14,

FIG. 16 is a plan view of a stand-alone embodiment of a circuit of thepresent invention, and

FIG. 17 is a rear perspective view of the stand-alone circuit of FIG.16.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The low voltage electricity distribution circuit of the presentinvention is an electrical outlet that includes a receptacle that ismounted to a bus bar system. The bus bar system is preferably mountedwithin a housing that extends horizontally along the base of a wall orother desired location. The receptacle has at least one continuouslylive power socket and at least one switched power socket disposed on it.Each of the power sockets is capable of receiving an appliance plug. Thereceptacle is movable along the bus bar to a different location to allowfor appliances, for example lamps or computers, to be located at manydifferent points along the wall.

In other forms the distribution circuit may be a set of wires extendingalong housing and a receptacle including terminals that contact thesewires. Furthermore, in yet other forms of the distribution circuit, astand-along unit that is fixed in place may be provided.

The preferred form of the electrical outlet apparatus of the presentinvention is shown in FIG. 1. A bus bar housing 2 is mounted on andextends along the base of a wall or at any other desired location on thewall. The housing 2 has a recess 3 extending within the entire length ofthe housing 2. Arranged within the recess 3 are a number of bus bars 4,5, 6, 8, 9. In the preferred form of the present invention, the bus barsare made up of three electrically conductive contact strips 4, 5, 6 andtwo ground strips 8, 9 that extend along the recess 3. A bus barinsulator 7 encloses bus bars 4, 5, and 6. The bus bar insulator 7 alsoprovides channels to mount or locate the ground bus bars 8 and 9. Thebus bar insulator is made from an insulative and fire retardant plastictype material, but other appropriate materials may be used. In thepreferred form, the upper contact strip 4 is a continuously powered(“live”) bus bar, the centre contact strip 5 is a neutral bus bar, andthe lower contact strip 6 is a switched bus (one that can be made liveby the operation of a switch). Disposed above and below the neutral busbar 5 are ground buses or strips 8, 9.

Fitted to the housing 2 and over the bus bar is a receptacle. Thereceptacle is made up of a faceplate 10 and back plate 11. The backplate 11 is affixed to the housing 2, and a faceplate 10 is fitted overthe back plate 11.

Referring to FIG. 6, hollow protrusions 26 in the shapes of the electricappliance plug pins protrude from the base of the back plate 11. Whenthe faceplate 10 is attached to the back plate 11, the protrusions 26fit into complimentary shaped apertures 12, 13 in the faceplate 10, butdo not extend out from the faceplate surface. When the faceplate 10 andback plate 11 are affixed to one another the apertures 12, 13 andprotrusions 26 form channels through the faceplate 10 and back plate 11.Sets of these channels form at least one socket that is capable ofaccommodating at least one standard two or three-pin electric applianceplug 15, 16. The channels extend to the bus bars thereby allowing thepins of a plug, when inserted in a socket, to meet with the bus barsforming an electrical contact between the bus bars and the plug pins.

Reference is now made to FIG. 2 where, in particular, the bus bar system25 is shown in detail. As mentioned above the bus bar system comprisestwo live buses, a neutral bus and two ground buses. The upper live bus 4is connected through a current limiting device 18 to standard wiringthat extends to a termination or fuse box within a building, where thetermination or fuse box is connected to an AC power source. The voltageof the live bus 4 in some forms will be 230 Volts, but in others, suchas when in use in a United States (US) power system it may be 120 Voltsor any other appropriate voltage. The current limiting device 18 may bea circuit breaker, surge protector, fuse, ground fault circuitinterrupter or any other appropriate device. The centre bus (lyingbetween the two live buses) is the neutral bus 5. The neutral bus isalso connected to standard wiring and to the termination or fuse box ofthe building (the termination or fuse box ultimately being connected toan electrical power distribution system). The lower live bus is aswitched bus 6 and is connected through a current limiting device 18 towiring and then to one side of a switch 17. The switch 17 is a standardswitch or dimmer switch that is disposed in a building wall in a knownmanner. The other side of the switch 17 is connected via standard wiringto the “live” terminal in the termination or fuse box. Finally, theground buses 8 and 9 are connected to a ground terminal. This groundterminal is usually located within the termination or fuse box, but maybe located elsewhere.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 10, each of the bus bars 4, 5, and 6 isconfigured at intervals with receiving means. The receiving means areslots 14, which are integrally formed in each bus bar. Each slot 14 isof a shape to receive a pin of a plug connected to a load or electricalappliance. The slots 14 are shaped to form a tight connection betweenthe bus bar and the pin of the plug. The slots 14 are spacedincrementally along the length of each of the buses in order to allowfor incremental relocation of the back plate 11 and faceplate 10 alongthe bus bar system. The slots 14 in the bus bars are preferably formedintegrally in the bus bar by the incremental punching of the slots inthe bus bar, but the slots may be formed by other appropriate ways. Inthe preferred form, each slot 14 is formed when a central section 48 ofthe bus bar is pushed downwards out of the plane of the bus bar, therebyforming a trough, and the side sections 49, 50 of the bus bar are pushedupwards out of the plane of the bus bar, forming two upper invertedtroughs on either side of the central section. In use, when a plug isinserted in the receptacle (front plate 10 and back plate 11) and thepins from the plug extend through the receptacle into the slots 14 onthe bus bar, for each slot and respective pin, the central section 48lies below the pin and the side sections 49, 50 lie above the pin and atight fit is formed about the pin, creating a electrical contact betweenthe pin and bus bar.

In some forms of the present invention, a plug may be utilized that hasthree pins. A standard electrical plug 15 is shown in FIG. 1. In mostforms such a plug has three pins, but in some forms may only have twopins. The first two pins 19, 21 are flat pins extending from the plug 15along parallel axes. The third pin 20 can be circular in shape, or maybe of similar shape to the first two pins, but usually the third pin 20extends from the plug along an axis parallel but between the first twopins 19, 21.

Referring to the form of the three pin US type plug as shown in FIG. 1,in use, when the plugs are inserted in a socket formed in thereceptacle, the first pin 19 is connected the neutral bus 5 and secondpin 21 may either be connected to the live bus bar 4 or switched bus bar6. The third pin 20 is connected to one of the ground bus bars 8, 9 byway of a ground slot 22 in FIG. 3. Incrementally spaced ground slots 22are formed in the ground bus bars. The ground slots 22 are similar tothe slots 14 in the other bus bars, but in this form of the present theground slots 22 are shaped to receive the third pin 20 of a standard UStype plug. In other forms of the present invention the ground slots 22and the slots 14 can be identical.

Referring again to FIG. 6, the protrusions 26 in the back plate 11 andapertures 12, 13 in the faceplate 10 form at least two sockets, onebeing a switched socket and the other a live socket. However, more thantwo sockets can be formed on the faceplate 10, for example, in FIG. 1,the faceplate has four sockets disposed within it, although in this formonly two plugs are able to be received at one time within the sockets.

FIG. 10 shows the bus bars 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and two plugs 15, 16. Plug 15is in a position within the bus bars which cause the appliance attachedto the plug to be “switched”. When a user operates the switch 17 (asshown schematically in FIG. 2) the appliance can be switched on or off.When a plug is inserted in the “switched socket” the first pin 19resides within a slot 14 in the neutral bus 5. The second pin 21 (notshown in FIG. 10, but being disposed below pin 19) resides within anaperture in the switched bus 6. The ground pin 20 resides within theslot 22 in the lower ground bus 9. Plug 16 is in a position within thebus bars which cause the appliance attached to the plug to becontinuously powered or live. When a plug is inserted in the “livesocket” the first (upper) pin 23 resides within an aperture in the livebus 4. The second (lower) pin 24 resides within a slot 14 in the neutralbus 5 and the ground pin (not shown in this view) resides within a slot22 in the upper ground bus 8.

The construction of the circuit of the present invention will now bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6. As already discussed, the busbar system 25 (consisting of the bus bar insulator 7 and bus bars 4, 5,6, 8, and 9) resides within a housing 2 where the housing is located ona wall within a building. FIG. 5 shows the end view of the bus barinsulator 7. The bus bar insulator has three hollow channels 43 toenclose the live, neutral, and switched buses. A continuous open slot 44is incorporated at one side of these channels to allow the electric plugpins to extend through the apertures in the bus bars. FIG. 5A is anisometric view of the bus bar 7 and shows the incrementally spacedopenings 45 for the ground bus slots 22 (as described earlier withreference to FIG. 3). As shown in FIG. 6, the back plate 11 is attachedto the upper 28 and lower 29 faces of the housing 2 by appropriatemeans. In the preferred form of the invention, the back plate 11 isindexed laterally by a boss (not shown) on the back of the back plate11. This boss protrudes through incrementally spaced holes 46 (FIG. 3)in the ground buses 8, 9 and then through the back plate locator hole 47(FIG. 5A). The back plate 11 is then screwed to the housing 2 usingscrews 27. FIG. 5B shows the complete bus bar system 25 with all busesinstalled in the bus bar insulator. The remainder of the bus bar andhousing that is not covered by the back plate 11 is then covered by acover 30 (FIGS. 6, 7) formed from a plastics type material and cut tothe appropriate length.

In FIG. 6 the faceplate 10 is illustrated as having a number of notches32 that lock with complementary protrusions 31 formed in the back plateedges. When the faceplate is snapped over the back plate, the apertures12, 13 of the faceplate 10 are aligned with the complimentaryprotrusions 26 of the back plate, so that when the plugs 15, 16 (seeFIG. 1) are inserted into these sockets, the pins extend through thefaceplate 10, back plate 11, open slots 44 of bus bar insulator 7, andthen into the slots within the bus bars.

FIGS. 4, 4A and 4B show side views of the circuit. FIG. 4A shows aprotrusion 51 at the edges of the housing 2 locking with a correspondingprotrusion 52 in cover 30. FIG. 4B illustrates the installation andremoval of the cover 30, which is achieved by squeezing and bending thecover 30 in order for the protrusion 52 on the cover 30 to fit into theprotrusions 51 and into the housing, to cover the exposed parts of thebus bar system. Other means to achieve the attaching of the cover to thehousing are envisaged, such as, sliding the cover over the housing.

When the receptacle (faceplate 10 and back plate 11) is completelyinstalled as shown in FIGS. 7 and 7A, the gaps between the cover 30 andback plate 11 are covered by the ends of faceplate 10 thus providing fora safe and secure connection of the receptacle to the housing.

In order to move the faceplate 10 to a different position along the busbar the faceplate 10 must be removed (for example, snapped off using astandard flat blade screwdriver or similar tool) and the back plate 11unscrewed and removed from the housing 2. The covers 30 then can beremoved as described above referring to FIG. 4B and the back platerelocated to a new desired location. The back plate is then resecured tothe housing 2 using screws 27 and the replacement covers cut toappropriate lengths are reinstalled to cover the exposed bus bar systemand housing. Finally the faceplate 10 is reinstalled (snapped) onto therelocated back plate 11.

A number of back plates can permanently reside at appropriate locationsalong the bus bar therefore faceplates can be installed over the backplates at a number of points along the bus bar.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show an alternative form of the bus system of the presentinvention. This form is more appropriate for a power system within NewZealand. In this form the bus system 35 is arranged in a differentmanner so that the bus bars and sockets 33, 34 are able to accommodatethe New Zealand style plugs and pins. In this form the upper bus bar 39is the live bus bar and the lower bus bar 40 is the switched bus bar.The centre bus bar 36 is the neutral bus bar and the bus bars above andbelow the neutral bus bar 36 are the ground buses 37, 38. In this formthe slots in the live, switched and neutral bus bars 41 are of the sameconfiguration as the slots 42 in the ground bus bar, in order toaccommodate the pins of a New Zealand style plug. This form of theelectrical outlet of the present invention is constructed and operatesin the same manner as is described above.

In other forms of the present invention a channel may be provided alongthe bottom of the housing 2 for the passage of telecommunications lines,such as a phone line or Internet line (CAT 5). The telecommunicationsline would preferably terminate at a socket formed in the faceplate, thesocket would be of the type in which electronic equipment such ascomputers or telephones could be plugged into.

As already mentioned, the housing and bus bars extend along the lengthof walls within a building. In order to facilitate the extension of thebus bars around corners of the walls a number of clips are providedwithin the bus bar system that accept the rectangular end of the busbars on one side and at the other side are attached to standard bendablewiring that extends around a corner and connects back into a secondclip. The other side of the second clip is connected to a furtherrectangular end of the bus bar and the length of the bus bar extendsalong the length of a second wall. An alternate method of extending thecontinuity of the bus bars around corners is to utilize standard solderjoints with wires.

As the faceplate is positionable at any number of different locationsalong the bus bar, the need for extension cords is minimized oreliminated. This provides a less cluttered room appearance and reducesthe likelihood of tripping over or damaging extension cords.Furthermore, fire and other safety hazards are minimized. In comparisonto a conventional electrical outlet embedded in a wall, it is very easyto change the location of the receptacle of the present invention andthis can be accomplished with a minimum number of standard tools veryquickly (time from start to finish should average less than 10 minutes).Also, the addition of new receptacles can be accomplished just aseasily. Usually, changing the location of a conventional electricaloutlet typically requires removing the drywall surrounding the outlet,removing the drywall surrounding the desired new location, securing theoutlet to an internal beam or structure of the wall at the new location,extending the electrical wires (within the wall) to which the outlet isconnected, and applying new drywall or filler at the old and newlocations of the outlet.

The faceplate and back plate, forming the receptacle, can be configuredto receive any desired number of plugs for different electricalappliances (or electrical plugs). With redesign for different plugtypes, the basic concept of this apparatus can be adopted to anyelectrical system worldwide. Furthermore, the receptacle can beconfigured to receive different types of connectors, such as connectorsfor telephone wires, coaxial wires for cable television and/or cablemodems, OSL wires, fiber optics, and the like (this would allow theseconnections to be relocated just as easily as the electric poweroutlets).

The receptacle of the present invention also provides a user with both aswitched power socket and a continuously live power socket thus offeringmore versatility in placement of appliances and or lamps.

Referring now to FIGS. 11 to 15, an alternative embodiment of thecircuit of the present invention will be described where a plurality ofwires 60, 61, 62, 63 provide electrical power to terminals 65, 66, 67,68 connected to a receptacle (69 and 70) that provides both switched andcontinuously powered electrical sockets. In this form of the circuit ofthe present invention an elongated recess 64 is provided that houses theplurality of wires 60, 61, 62, 63. In particular, as shown in FIG. 11,the extruded housing is made from a plastics material and houses fourwires, a switched wire 60, one that can be made live by the operation ofa switch, neutral wire 61, continuously (“live”) wire 62 and ground wire63. Each of these wires is connected to a termination or fuse box of abuilding, whether by way of standard wiring or directly to the box. Areceptacle comprising a faceplate 70 and back plate 69 and a pluralityof terminals 65, 66, 67, 68 is fittable to the elongated recess(extruded housing) 64 in the same manner as described above in relationto FIG. 6.

Located behind the back plate 69 are a plurality of terminals 65, 66,67, 68. In particular, each of these terminals relate to a particularone of the wires within the housing 64. Therefore, there is a groundcontact terminal 65, switched contact terminal 66, neutral contactterminal 67 and continuously powered (“live') contact terminal 68. Eachof these terminals has receiving means or slots 74, 75 that are able toreceive a plug 77, 78, 79 of an electrical plug 73 connected to anelectrical appliance. As an example, the slots in the switched 66,neutral 67 and live 68 terminals preferably receive one of the twonarrow pins 77, 78 (similar to those pins 19, 21 described in relationto FIG. 1) of the plug 73. The ground terminal 65 has a slot 75 that iscapable of receiving the larger pin 79 of the plug 73. Each of theterminals is fixed to the back plate 69 and is arranged such that whenthe receptacle is fitted to the housing 64 part of each terminal abutsthe corresponding wire.

The faceplate 70 has apertures 72 and the back plate 69 hascomplimentary protrusions 76 that form a channel through the receptacle,such that at least a switched and a continuously powered socket areprovided on the receptacle. As with the embodiment described above, theswitched socket can be operated by a switch and the other iscontinuously live. An electrical appliance plug 73 has pins 77, 78, 79that are fittable through each channel so that when fitted into a socketthe pins extend and abut the terminals 65, 66, 67, 68. In this manner,the plug 73 may be plugged into one of the two sockets on the receptacleand each of the pins connect with a particular terminal, much in thesame manner as discussed above in relation to FIG. 10, to form either aswitched connection or continuously powered connection.

Referring now to FIGS. 12 and 13, each of the terminals 66, 67, 68 hasan extension that is formed such that side on it has a waved profile.The waved extensions are fitted through apertures 80, 81, 82 formed inthe elongated housing 64 and the end of the extensions of the contactterminals abuts the wires housed within the apertures 80, 81, 82 of thehousing 64. A firm connection is made due to the spring tension in eachof the waved extensions causing the ends of the extensions to push downon each wire, as shown in FIG. 13.

Referring now to FIGS. 14 and 15, the ground contact terminal 65 has anextension 83 that extends below the main body of the terminal 65 tocontact the ground wire 63.

The receptacle and wiring system of this embodiment of the circuit ofthe present invention allows for the receptacle to be moved along therecess 64 and placed at an infinite number of positions along the recess64, thus giving the user flexibility in the choice of locations of thereceptacle and subsequently sockets. This form of the present inventionprovides advantages over the form described above in relation to FIG. 1.The bus bar system of FIG. 1 only allows for set positioning of thereceptacle over the slots formed in the bus bars. In this alternateembodiment the receptacle can be slid along the recess 64 and thecontact terminals 65 to 68 will merely slide along the wires 60 to 63.Also the problem of continuing the electrical continuity around cornersusing the bus bar system is eliminated since the wires 60 to 63 cansimply be bent around corners.

A stand-alone circuit is shown in FIGS. 16 and 17. This circuit would besuitable to replace existing stand-alone power sockets. Here areceptacle 108 has a face plate (not shown) and back plate 109.Terminals 104, 105, 106, 107 (similar to those described above) residein the back of the back plate 109. The terminals have slots 110, 111,112, 113,114 that are capable of receiving the pins of a standard 2 or 3pin plug to allow for an electrical connection to be made to the plug.Each of the terminals is connected via screws 100, 101, 102, 103 tostandard wiring in a house or building and to a termination or fuse box.The terminals are of much the same form as described above in relationto FIG. 11 and provide for both a switched power socket and acontinuously live electrical power socket.

1. A low voltage electricity distribution circuit, which supplies bothswitchable and unswitchable power from switchable and unswitchable powersources, comprising: a molding defining a recess; a plurality ofconductors configured to receive pins of a plug that is electricallyconnected to an electrical load, comprising: a first conductorelectrically connected to an unswitchable power source; a secondconductor electrically connected to a switchable power source; and athird conductor electrically connected to a neutral power source; and atleast one receptacle mechanically and releasably engaged with themolding, wherein the receptacle includes at least one live socket andone switchable socket, each socket formed by a plurality of aperturesextending through the receptacle and connected to the conductors;wherein when the plug is inserted in the live socket the pins form anelectrical connection with the first conductor and the third conductorsuch that the electrical load is continuously powered, and when the plugis inserted in the switchable socket the pins form an electricalconnection with the second conductor and the third conductor such thatthe electric load is switchably powered.
 2. The low voltage electricitydistribution circuit of claim 1, wherein at least one of the aperturesin use is shared by the live socket and the switchable socket.
 3. Thelow voltage electricity distribution circuit of claim 1, wherein themolding is elongated and the recess extends substantially continuouslyalong the molding.
 4. The low voltage electricity distribution circuitof claim 1, wherein the first conductor, the second conductor and thethird conductor together form a busbar system.
 5. The low voltageelectricity distribution circuit of claim 1, wherein the firstconductor, the second conductor and the third conductor are each anelectrical wire housed within the recess.
 6. The low voltage electricitydistribution circuit of claim 1, further comprising: a channel forhousing at least one telecommunications lines line in the recess; atelecommunication line housed in the channel; and a telecommunicationline socket in the receptacle connected to the telecommunication line inthe channel.
 7. An electrical distribution system which supplies bothswitchable and unswitchable power from switchable and unswitchable powersources, comprising: a first conductor that is connected in use to theunswitchable power source; a second conductor that is connected in useto the switchable power source; a third conductor that is connected inuse to a neutral power source; and a receptacle for receiving one ormore electrical plugs comprising: a face plate, a first apertureextending through the face plate and providing access to the firstconductor: a second aperture extending through the face plate andproviding access to the second conductor; and a third aperture extendingthrough the face plate and providing access to the third conductor;wherein the first and third apertures define an unswitchable socketconfigured to receive pins of an electrical plug and the second andthird apertures define a switchable socket configured to receive thepins of the electrical plug.
 8. (canceled)
 9. (canceled)
 10. Theelectrical distribution system of claim 7, wherein the receptacleincludes one or more additional unswitchable sockets.
 11. The electricaldistribution system of claim 7, wherein the receptacle includes one ormore additional switchable sockets.
 12. An electrical distributionsystem which supplies unswitchable power from an unswitchable powersource, comprising: a first conductor that is connected in use to theunswitchable power source; a second conductor that is connected in useto the unswitchable power source; and a third conductor that isconnected in use to a neutral power source; a receptacle for receivingone or more electrical plugs, comprising: a face plate; a first apertureextending through the face plate and providing access to the firstconductor; a second aperture extending through the face plate andproviding access to the second conductor; and a third aperture extendingthrough the face plate and providing access to the third conductor;wherein the first and third apertures define a first unswitchable socketconfigured to receive pins of an electrical plug, and the second andthird apertures define a second unswitchable socket configured toreceive the pins of the electrical plug, the receptacle being configuredto be releasably engaged with the first, second, and third conductors.13. An electrical distribution system which supplies switchable power,comprising: a first switchable power source; a second switchable powersource; a first conductor that is connected in use to the firstswitchable power source; a second conductor that is connected in use tothe second switchable power source; and a third conductor that isconnected in use to a neutral power source; a receptacle for receivingone or more electrical plugs, comprising: a face plate; a first apertureextending through the face plate and providing access to the firstconductor; a second aperture extending through the face plate andproviding access to the second conductor; and a third aperture extendingthrough the face plate and providing access to the third conductor;wherein the first and third apertures define a first switchable socketconfigured to receive pins of an electrical plug, and the second andthird apertures define a second switchable socket configured to receivethe pins of the electrical plug, the receptacle being configured to bereleasably engaged with the first, second, and third conductors.
 14. Theelectrical distribution system of claim 13, wherein the first switchablepower source and the second switchable power source are connected to acommon switch.
 15. A plug receptacle for receiving an electrical plug intwo orientations, comprising a first aperture in the receptacle forreceiving the plug in a first orientation; a second aperture in thereceptacle for receiving the plug in a second orientation; a thirdaperture in the receptacle for receiving the plug in both the firstorientation and the second orientation.
 16. The plug receptacle of claim15, further comprising ground apertures for receiving a grounding pin ineach orientation.
 17. The plug receptacle of claim 15, wherein the firstorientation is configured as a switchable socket.
 18. The plugreceptacle of claim 17, wherein the second orientation is configured asan unswitchable socket.
 19. The low voltage electricity distributioncircuit of claim 1, wherein the receptacle can be placed in any one of aplurality of locations along the molding.